MINNEAPOLIS -- The Indians were not going to take any chances when catcher Yan Gomes began to feel ill after absorbing a deflected pitch off the mask on Thursday afternoon.

In the sixth inning of the Tribe's 4-1 loss to the Twins, Gomes exited with concussion-like symptoms, but the catcher's ailment was not technically classified as a concussion. Gomes was evaluated by a doctor on site at Target Field and will continue to be monitored by the Indians overnight.

Cleveland manager Terry Francona said Gomes would be re-evaluated on Friday morning, too.

"The doctor didn't want to say he had a concussion," Francona said after the loss. "But we obviously need to keep an eye on him. We'll get him examined in the morning and keep an eye on him tonight. He said he's already feeling a lot better. Obviously, we need to keep an eye on him."

When approached by reporters after the game, Gomes declined comment.

Gomes, who has been one of Cleveland's hottest hitters in the second half, received a day off on Wednesday night and went hitless through two trips to the plate on Thursday afternoon. In the fifth inning, the catcher was struck on the mask by a baseball that deflected off the left arm of Minnesota batter Kurt Suzuki.

In the sixth inning, Gomes was replaced behind the plate by rookie catcher Roberto Perez.

"On the ball that hit Suzuki," Francona said, "it glanced him and kind of hit Gomer on the side of the mask there. And then he wasn't feeling well. So we got him out of there."

Through 109 games played this season, the 27-year-old Gomes has hit .284 with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs for the Indians. Heading into Thursday's action, the catcher had hit at a .359 clip with 15 extra-base hits, 20 RBIs and a 1.005 OPS in his previous 30 games, dating back to July 12.